Two dopamine receptors: biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology

Ascorbic acid does not modulate stimulated dopamine release: in vivo voltammetric data in the rat

Electrical stimulation of the nigrostriatal pathway released dopamine (DA) in the striatum of the anaesthetized rat. The level of DA released by 10-s stimulus trains was measured by high-speed cyclic voltammetry. Metoclopramide (10 mg/kg) increased DA release by approximately 20%. Apomorphine (1.76 mg/kg) caused a approximately 40% decrease in release which was blocked by metoclopramide. Ascorbate (1.76 g/kg) had no effect on stimulated DA release. Furthermore, pretreatment of rats with ascorbate trebled the striatal extracellular ascorbate level, but failed to modify the effects of metoclopramide and apomorphine on DA release. We conclude that ascorbate has no effect on the presynaptic autoreceptors that modulate striatal DA release in vivo.

Analysis of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor involvement in d- and l-amphetamine-induced anorexia in rats

The concept of dopamine receptor subtypes and the recent development of selective dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists raises the possibility of specific subtype involvement in amphetamine-induced anorexia, and, furthermore, provides the means to evaluate the possibility. Using a test of palatable food consumption by nondeprived male rats, our data confirmed a more potent suppressant effect of d-amphetamine on food intake, compared to l-amphetamine (potency ratio 5.32:1). The test proved sensitive, with ED50s of 0.28 mg/kg and 1.49 mg/kg for d- and l-amphetamine, respectively. The modest anorectic effect of 0.3 mg/kg d-amphetamine was completely reversed by the selective dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, but was not affected by the selective D2 receptor antagonist, sulpiride. A matched feeding-suppressant effect of 1.0 mg/kg l-amphetamine was reversed at one dose of SCH 23390, but was unaffected by sulpiride. Stronger anorectic effects produced by 1.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine and 3.0 mg/kg l-amphetamine were not antagonized either by SCH 23390 or sulpiride. The selective D1 receptor agonist, SKF 38393, produced a dose-dependent reduction in food consumption, without producing behavioural stereotypy. Unlike amphetamine, SKF 38393 is not self-administered, and therefore may provide an example of a novel pharmacological dissociation between anorectic and reinforcing effects of drug treatments mediated by dopamine receptors. Our data implicate dopamine D1 receptors in the control of feeding responses, and suggest that these receptors may mediate the anorectic effect of small-dose amphetamine treatments.

Neurotransmitter receptor autoradiography in immunohistochemically identified neurons

A method for the simultaneous visualization of neurotransmitter receptor binding sites and immunohistochemically characterized cells is described using in vitro sections of rat striatum. The striatum provides a rich neurochemical environment in which to examine muscarinic acetylcholine receptor relations to peptide-reactive somata, or to assess the cellular locale of the dopamine receptor linked to adenylate cyclase activation. Different modifications of the procedure are employed to determine the localization pattern of 3H-radioligands with slow or rapid receptor dissociation times. The present technique is compatible for use with any combination of immunohistochemical antibody/radioligand probe that can be studied on fresh-frozen, slide-mounted tissue sections.

Changes in hypothalamic dopamine D-2 receptors during sexual maturation in male and female rats

We have examined variations in hypothalamic dopamine D-2 receptor levels occurring during sexual maturation in male and female rats, using a [3H]domperidone radioligand binding assay. A major decrease in D-2 receptor levels was observed during sexual development, and was accompanied by the appearance of a sexual dimorphism in receptor levels, which appeared to be the result of neonatal sexual differentiation. These changes may be linked with the alterations in hormone levels which occur during sexual maturation.

Effects of the enantiomers of 3-PPP on DA1 and DA2 dopamine receptors in the dog

The (+)- and (-)-enantiomers of 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine (3-PPP) were studied for their effects on DA1 and DA2 dopamine receptors in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs. 3-PPP enantiomers were administered into the renal artery after phenoxybenzamine pretreatment to determine possible DA1 activity; dopamine was also injected for comparison. DA2 activity was determined by injection of the enantiomers into the femoral vascular bed with intact nerve supply and without phenoxybenzamine; dipropyl dopamine (DPDA) or apomorphine were used as standard DA2 agonists. Antagonist activity of the enantiomers on DA1 or DA2 receptors was determined by simultaneous administration of the enantiomer with DA in the renal vascular bed and with DPDA or apomorphine in the femoral vascular bed. Neither enantiomer was active as a DA1 agonist, but both exhibited antagonist activity. Both enantiomers were found to be agonists of the DA2 receptor; in addition, both showed DA2 antagonist activity. In all actions the (-)-enantiomer was approximately 4 times more potent than the (+)-enantiomer.

Dopaminergic modulation of hippocampal noradrenaline release. Evidence for alpha 2-antagonistic effects of some dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists

3H-Noradrenaline release in the rabbit hippocampus and its possible modulation via presynaptic dopamine receptors was studied. Hippocampal slices were preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline, continuously superfused in the presence of cocaine (30 mumol/l) and subjected to electrical field stimulation. The electrically evoked tritium overflow from the slices was reduced by 0.1 and 1 mumol/l dopamine and apomorphine, but significantly enhanced by 10 mumol/l apomorphine or by 0.1 and 1 mumol/l bromocriptine. If the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (0.1 mumol/l) was present throughout superfusion, the inhibitory effects of dopamine and apomorphine were more pronounced and even 10 mumol/l apomorphine and 1 mumol/l bromocriptine inhibited noradrenaline release. Qualitatively similar observations were made in the presence of another alpha 2-antagonist, idazoxane (0.1 mumol/l). In the presence of the D2-receptor antagonist domperidone (0.1 mumol/l) the inhibitory effects of dopamine were almost abolished, whereas both apomorphine (greater than 1 mumol/l) and bromocriptine (greater than 0.01 mumol/l) greatly facilitated noradrenaline release. The D2-receptor agonist LY 171555 (0.1 and 1 mumol/l) significantly reduced the evoked noradrenaline release whereas the D1-selective agonist SK & F 38393 was ineffective at similar concentrations. The effects of LY 171555 were abolished in the presence of domperidone (0.1 mumol/l) but remained unchanged in the presence of yohimbine or idazoxane (0.1 mumol/l, each). At 1 mumol/l the D2-receptor antagonists domperidone and (-)sulpiride significantly increased the evoked noradrenaline release by about 10%. However, at this concentration, domperidone (but not (-)sulpiride) affected also basal tritium outflow. Bulbocapnine and the preferential D1-receptor antagonists SCH 23390 enhanced the evoked noradrenaline release already at 0.1 mumol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

An iodinated ligand identifying the D-1 dopamine receptor

Iodination (with 125I) of SKF 83692 (2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepin-7-ol) produces a ligand of high specific activity. In the caudate nucleus of rat brain, this ligand binds to a site which discriminates between the active and inactive enantiomers of drugs selective for the D-1 receptor but which does not recognize drugs selective for the D-2 dopamine receptor or a serotonin receptor. Non-specific binding of this ligand is less than 5% of the total binding.

Dopamine-receptor agonists: mechanisms underlying autoreceptor selectivity. I. Review of the evidence

The behavioural, biochemical, neuroendocrinological and electrophysiological actions of the enantiomers of the dopamine (DA) analogue 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine, 3-PPP, are extensively reviewed. (+)-3-PPP acts in a fashion similar to classical direct-acting DA agonists, stimulating both DA autoreceptors and postsynaptic DA receptors, although in some situations the drug appears to exhibit partial agonist activity. (-)-3-PPP exerts a variety of actions in different pharmacological models. Either agonistic, antagonistic or both agonistic and antagonistic activity are observed depending on the anatomical location of the relevant DA receptors and the experimental conditions. The actions of transdihydrolisuride (TDHL) and the trans-fused 7-OH-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydrobenzo(f)quinoline (HW 165) are also discussed. These agents possess a similar spectrum of action to (-)-3-PPP suggesting a new generation of DA agonists which exhibit variable intrinsic activity at different DA receptors. Finally, evidence is presented indicating that the 3-PPP enantiomers display selectivity for DA receptors.